Alright, so I'm an IT student right now and we're working with virtual machines, using windows 7. We're getting into Linux later this quarter, and I have no experience with it. I'd like to set up a VM and tinker with it before we get into class with it. I know this forum is crawling with techies, so I ask you Chiefsplanet, what would be the best version for someone to get their feet wet with Linux?

I dual boot Ubuntu and Windows, but could probably get away with a Windows VM, since I hardly use it. It's completely changed my perspective from "it's just the way it is" with Windows to being able to fix pretty much any big or small annoyance. If you're willing to spend the time researching and using those annoyances as opportunities to learn the OS, it's a good way to get your feet wet.

Like others have said though, if you want to start from scratch, I'd pick up a book on RHEL in order to learn command line basics, etc.

Most of our servers at work are running CentOS - and I run Fedora on my work Laptop just to keep the redhat flavor across the board

Love Linux

i was browsing and came across your build thread. have you had any problems having the dual boot option? one of my teachers said there had been issues with vista, 7, and 8 "sharing" the computer with linux, just wondering if you had any issues.

I've tried VMs of mint, and fedora, but settled on installing Backtrack 5, which is ubuntu based, and comes with a bunch of security tools. I liked the others, but their GUI made them too much like windows for what i'm trying to do here, and wasn't using them at all. I'm learning as i go with this stuff. anybody got any advice for me regarding backtrack?

I started off with Ubuntu. At work though we use SLES, so I switched to OpenSUSE (basically the free version of SLES). Both have a decent GUI if that's what you're into, but I wouldn't say I have a preference towards either one. I basically just have a spare old computer that I run a web/file/print server from within my house, so for what I use it for it really doesn't matter the OS.

i was browsing and came across your build thread. have you had any problems having the dual boot option? one of my teachers said there had been issues with vista, 7, and 8 "sharing" the computer with linux, just wondering if you had any issues.

I've tried VMs of mint, and fedora, but settled on installing Backtrack 5, which is ubuntu based, and comes with a bunch of security tools. I liked the others, but their GUI made them too much like windows for what i'm trying to do here, and wasn't using them at all. I'm learning as i go with this stuff. anybody got any advice for me regarding backtrack?

When I moved to Chicago I had to switch to wireless internet for my desktop - well i never bothered to get the wlan adapter to work in linux and I was playing more games on windows anyway - so my desktop has been a windows only box for about a year.
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I have fedora installed on my work laptop as the sole OS with a Windows 7 VM I boot to access exchange / lync

Back|Track is now Kali Linux. Moves from Ubuntu to Debian...which I'm sure for many is a distinction without a difference. I'm downloading the VM now and have the day off. Looks like I may be taking the D out of my wireless DMZ today.

But seriously...if you think it's a good idea to connect to the open AP with the SSID of "Autopwn" you're kind of asking for whatever I'm throwing at you.

Linux is regulated to the pure geekdom of tech history. Just 5-10 years ago businesses were considering Linux as at least web servers but now it's dying and has no future in business. It will be what it is or less as time goes on.

It will always be a toy of geeks. Not making a judgement on thats the way it should be, just stating the reality.

If you want to really learn to earn money.......... Vmware/SAN/Security/AD will get you the most opportunities in I.T. shops.